Thanks for starting the thread. I just found this, so I thought I would add my thoughts since my call was the catalyst to this. The TLCA is looking at Chapters that are not in good standing (i.e. haven'ts submitted their list of members, with officers, etc.). To be a chapter, you don't have to collect dues for your club, but the following requirement must be met: "For consideration as a member in a TLCA Chapter, the minimum requirement is six owners of a Toyota 4-wheel drive vehicle. This is not to say that if a few of your close friends that have other 4WD vehicles cannot participate in your Chapter, but, to be considered for Chapter membership in TLCA, control of the club must be maintained by the Toyota 4WD members only, now and at all future times."
What that also means is that Chapter Officers and the majority of the members need to also be TLCA members. I don't submit my annual dues through a chapter, because I belong to 3 (CLC, PMC, and LSLC) but the club CAN do that if you want (which also means you need to collect them, then send in payments....thus you'll need a bank account). But regardless, you need to have the member numbers on the roster.
Really, that's it. You don't have to DO anything specific per se. But you do get a Chapter Delegate on the BOD that can help shape what the TLCA is doing as a whole. You also get access to insurance for events you organize. Remember that if someone says "hey let's go wheeling" they can be held liable if something bad (heaven forbid) happens.
Obviously, it's totally up to ya'll as to if and how you want to do things. A monthly meeting, a newsletter, dues or no dues, etc. But a Chapter does get you a way to organize fellow Toyota fans to get together. I'm happy to answer questions if you have any.
Heather